Dublin: Rahul Dravid appears to be taking a hands-off approach as the owner of the Dublin Guardians in the inaugural European T20 Premier League (ETPL), leaving most of the cricketing decisions to head coach Vikram Rathour and captain Ravichandran Ashwin.
The Dublin franchise has endured a difficult start to the tournament, winning only one of its first six matches. Rathour, however, said Dravid has remained supportive despite the team's early struggles and has not attempted to interfere with team selection or match strategies.
“Rahul is behaving like an owner,” Rathour said during a media interaction, adding that Dravid has largely stayed away from cricketing decisions. According to the former India batting coach, Dravid's experience as a player and coach has helped him understand the unpredictable nature of results.
Rathour said Dravid's support was particularly valuable during the difficult opening phase, when the Guardians failed to win their first five matches. Rather than putting pressure on the coaching staff, Dravid has backed the team and allowed the cricketing group to handle matters on the field.
The presence of Ashwin has also made Rathour's job easier. The veteran Indian spinner has an extensive knowledge of international cricket and players from different countries, something that has proved particularly useful in a tournament involving teams and cricketers from European nations.
Rathour described Ashwin as a “cricket fanatic” who watches a huge amount of cricket and has an impressive understanding of players and conditions around the world. He said Ashwin and he regularly exchange ideas and discuss different aspects of the game.
For Rathour, who has spent much of his coaching career working in Indian cricket, the ETPL represents a new experience. He admitted that understanding unfamiliar conditions and players would have been more difficult without Ashwin's input.
The ETPL has attracted several prominent former and current international cricketers in ownership and playing roles. Alongside Dravid, former stars such as Steve Waugh, Matthew Hayden, Faf du Plessis and Jonty Rhodes are associated with franchises, while Glenn Maxwell is also involved as a co-owner.
The tournament began on August 26, with the final scheduled for September 20. Indian players Ajinkya Rahane and Vijay Shankar are also participating in the competition alongside Ashwin.
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